vaporware

Vaporware is a term used to describe a product—typically software or hardware—that is announced or heavily marketed to the public but is subsequently never released, significantly delayed, or released in a form that differs substantially from the promised version.

Origin and usage of the term became prominent in the 1980s and 1990s, as technology journalism repeatedly highlighted projects that were announced with fanfare yet failed to materialize as promised. The exact origin is disputed, but the concept has remained a common critique of pre-release hype and marketing-driven promises.

Causes of vaporware vary. Development challenges, shifting priorities, funding problems, or strategic pivots can leave a company unable to deliver on initial timelines. In some cases, marketing pressures or platform changes prolong the delay, while still maintaining public interest through teaser materials and announced features.

Impact can be significant. Vaporware can erode consumer trust, affect investor confidence, and distort expectations around other products. It also raises questions about the reliability of pre-release announcements and may influence how future projects are funded or marketed.

Notable examples often cited include Daikatana (Ion Storm), announced in the late 1990s and released in 2000 after lengthy development; Duke Nukem Forever (3D Realms), announced in 1997 and finally released in 2011; StarCraft: Ghost, announced in the early 2000s and canceled around 2006; and Beyond Good & Evil 2, announced in 2008 and still unreleased as of the 2020s. Some vaporware eventually materializes years later, while others are abandoned entirely.